Palpatine doesn't seem as big of a deal since you can take him for 5 more points in a naked Omicron Group shuttle, and he'd be WAY easier to kill in a bomber.
If you think a Palpatine Bomber would be easier to kill than a Palpatine Shuttle, I urge you to break out of the thought experiment and test it on the actual table. You'll be surprised. (And that's not even mentioning the 5-point savings.)
My personal one to try is Scimitar/Fleet Officer/Rebel Captive. The opponent wants to take it down, but doesn't want to shoot at it, you leave it at the back buffing two aces, and it presents a neat catch 22.
And for 22points! Good pun.
You could run 5 bombers with Rec Spec. Offence and Defensive focus, 19 points.
If you look at the cards in the Veterans box, you see one with what looks like a Tie Pilot on it called Sys... Of... I bet that is Systems Officer and will be an obvious shuttle crew. I look forward to see it revealed.
Edited by Dwing
Palpatine doesn't seem as big of a deal since you can take him for 5 more points in a naked Omicron Group shuttle, and he'd be WAY easier to kill in a bomber.
If you think a Palpatine Bomber would be easier to kill than a Palpatine Shuttle, I urge you to break out of the thought experiment and test it on the actual table. You'll be surprised. (And that's not even mentioning the 5-point savings.)
Except the card restricts upgrades up to 4 points, so no emperor.
I'll run this, only because I really want to Wampa someone then sabotage them. I'll have beastie boys ready to play too.
Tactician spam. That is all.
(X5) SCIMITAR + Intel agent + tactician + Tie mk 2
You think the 4pt restriction was there (rather than 5) specifically so we coudn't load up Tactician + Gunner, then intentionally miss certain targets for a double stress? Tactician + Gunner on a two red dice ship ain't bad for 23 points. Almost a stresshog ....kinda, ...almost.
They did not want Palpatine in a cheap TIE Bomber tooling around the edge of the field well away from any action.
could have said none over 6 or none that occupy both spaces.
that would have left a gunner seat
with gunner+tactician combo.
The Bomber's dial has incredible utility with certain crew.
Mara Jade with a 5 Koiogran comes to mind. "Oh, hey, your entire fleet is stressed, and I got behind and parallel with you the turn before combat started. And I'm only 19 points? What fun :D"
If you look at the cards in the Veterans box, you see one with what looks like a Tie Pilot on it called Sys... Of... I bet that is Systems Officer and will be an abvious shuttle crew. I look forward to see it revealed.
Or is it Systems Offline, a discard EPT? Hopefully another support crew.
The Bomber's dial has incredible utility with certain crew.
Mara Jade with a 5 Koiogran comes to mind. "Oh, hey, your entire fleet is stressed, and I got behind and parallel with you the turn before combat started. And I'm only 19 points? What fun :D"
mara stresses unsressed foes at R1 at the beginning of combat phase.
can't say it's super effective.
in most cases stress-fearing ones are PTLers. and they are already stressed at the moment :C
Because it's fun.
Proxied a Scimitar with Twin Ion engines, Mara Jade, and Fleet officer into a Vader Obsidian Tie list and it is a great little ship. Once the furball starts those extra focuses are very helpful for K tunring Ties and Mara can catch three or four enemies and limit their next round movement with stress. When the Gamma veterans come out Wired will be a good EPT in combination with Fleet Officer. Stressing every turn for focus tokens, get the wired benefit on attack and defense, move with Twin Ion greens to clear and set up for next round.
TIE Shuttle with Weapons Engineer in support of Colonel Vessery in his TIE/D.
Replying to TIE Shuttle - Why?
I'm going to assume "Because it was a thing in the lore." And I'm completely okay with that.
It's too bad they felt like capping the crew cost for, I assume, balance reasons. Because it would have been an awesome little Palpatine carrier otherwise. Faster than the shuttle, but much less survivable.
Guess still no Emperor for me in my TIE-only lists.
The tie shuttle title is bloody awesome
I hate to sound like a broken record, but 3 scimitar with Tactician on each paired up with Rebel captive, Mara jade and Intel agent on one each has worked wonders for me.
Leaves lots of points for elite pilot(s) or spam ties
I've been using vessery with the new d title and ion Cannon and crackshot, and it's a very nice control list.
Bombers are tanky, and I can't count the amount of games where my opponent focus fires on one only to have it get away with 1-2 hull left and then refocus on another fully health bombers.
Having three bombers all with stress mechanic is great. Your opponent won't know where to go. High ps aces are intimated by them.
I've considered putting tractor beam on vessery so I can lower the agility of a pilot to help the bombers two red dice, but for now I'm 3/0 with them and they are bloody awesome sauce.
This is what bombers needed. My buddy and I were talking about this last spring. A crew upgrade would make them awesome, and it does.
Another option I've toyed with is having Tactician on each and then Recon specialist. Just to make them tankier.
Ordinance is great and all, but can be a lot of work to set up that perfect shot, even with LRS and ordinance chips, etc.
And once you do fire your opponent still has the chance to evade and your dice can still fail.
Having a couple of tanky ships with crew on them to support other ships is a good role and doesn't rely on getting as many stars lined up just right to work.
So far my list has been putting the fear of God into the aces lists and I'm now more excited for this than wave 8
Scimitar Squadron Pilot (16)
Tactician (2)
Navigator (3)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE Shuttle (0)
Scimitar Squadron Pilot (16)
Tactician (2)
Intelligence Agent (1)
TIE Shuttle (0)
Scimitar Squadron Pilot (16)
Tactician (2)
Navigator (3)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE Shuttle (0)
Scimitar Squadron Pilot (16)
Tactician (2)
Intelligence Agent (1)
TIE Shuttle (0)
Scimitar Squadron Pilot (16)
Tactician (2)
TIE Shuttle (0)
Total: 100
View in Yet Another Squad Builder
I don't know about you, but I think this list would be pretty dang scary.
To me the shuttle comes in handy when running this.
Tomax Bren
Cool Hand
Fleet Officer
Mk2 Engine
Title
Glaive Squadron Pilot (unreleased tie def)
Juke
Mk2 Engine
X7 Title
Defenders have the potential to get a evade, focus, and TL without getting stressed. And at PS 6 they can react to alot of other pilots maneuvers.
I'll run this, only because I really want to Wampa someone then sabotage them. I'll have beastie boys ready to play too.
That sounds awesome. Too bad Agent Kallus can't help Saboteur's rolls. 
It's the last Imperial small ship of the OT that's canon.
It's a lore accurate upgrade that both presents options and does not break **** in half
Jonus becomes the ultimate support ship with fleet officer.Besides in its current form it is all the torpedoes and missile and bomb slots that is holding the Bomber back. Torpedoes missiles and bombs are just not any good in the competitive scene.
As for pilot abilities well you won't be taking the title for Major Rhymer obviously or any other unique pilot which abilities specifically apply to torpedoes missiles or bombs.
I'm going to assume "Because it was a thing in the lore." And I'm completely okay with that.Replying to TIE Shuttle - Why?
It's too bad they felt like capping the crew cost for, I assume, balance reasons. Because it would have been an awesome little Palpatine carrier otherwise. Faster than the shuttle, but much less survivable.
Guess still no Emperor for me in my TIE-only lists.
Speaking of "lore", I think that it's because the Emperor don't ride in no cheap TIE Shuttle. That's for losers like Captain Needa. 
He takes up two Crew slots because he has his shuttle customised for him - leather seats, drinks cabinet, sound system, ...
Speaking of "lore", I think that it's because the Emperor don't ride in no cheap TIE Shuttle. That's for losers like Captain Needa.
...MASSIVE subwoofer...
Speaking of "lore", I think that it's because the Emperor don't ride in no cheap TIE Shuttle. That's for losers like Captain Needa.
The TIE Shuttle has 4 passenger seats. You could easily fit all of that in there if you took out the other 3 seats.
I'll run this, only because I really want to Wampa someone then sabotage them. I'll have beastie boys ready to play too.
That sounds awesome. Too bad Agent Kallus can't help Saboteur's rolls.
That's why the Emperor is flying in the shuttle.
First round of shooting: Evade with Wampa. Use Palp to give Wampa a crit and get a dmg through, keep Wampa alive (hopefully) with Kallus and Evade token.
Second Round: Get Wampa out of there or bump. move up Tie shuttle near now damaged ship. Action: Roll for Sab (If it's a hit, YAY, if it's not Palp it). Now that ship has a crit behind it's shield.
Third Round: Turn Wampa around, damage same ship again.
Rinse, repeat until one of the the cogs in the machine dies.